The Press., 1887-05-12
HOUsE;.-HUNTING.

GAO SuDurDS or my 0&B1NS CAtys
 had chosen, as if by instinct, shaded avenue for my stroll, and was enjoying the little breath of air that was playing idly with the dense, sluggish foliage overhead. when came unexpectedly upon little cottage situated a little way from the road. The grounds were tastefully laid out, and there was dainty bit of velvety lawn in front at one side of the house. Involuntarily paused to take in the pretty picture. and as l stood leaning against the lawn fence caught the sound of female voices. Then discovered that they proceeded from small grove at the side of the cottage.
 There were four persons in the chatter ing group, seated almost out of sight from where had first stopped There was an elderly lady, and a young girl of probably 16, and two young ladies of about lS and 22 respectively. a1..a
 The elder of the two was a blonde, and, though she possessed fair face and good figure, dismissed her from my scrutiny almost instantly as caught sight of the other. This one was 8 study, upon which my mind as well as my gaze dwelt to the exclusion of the rest of the group. or ii
 She was of medium height-she was the only one of the fair quartette standing
  ness, and with face that always would command more than casual glance.
 It was the work of but few moments to take a mental picture of this charming girl, and also added to this crime the theft of bouquet of the odorous honey suckle. .e.-s s'44@.zs e. .. ta sst9 -., Gj. Casting glance at the pretty cottage, I saw small piece of paper tackled to ve- randa pillow, npon which I deciphered, with the aid of a glaas, the following leg end, written in small, female hand:
 ''To let; inquire within"
 Immediately wanted to hire the cot Itage. Not that | needed it, or had any earthly use for it, but a sort of insane de- sire seized me toget possession of the nest that held the beautiful bird, under the ri diculous and illogical reasoning, or rather lack of reason, that the bird, of course, went with the nest, in business way.
 l had put my hand upon the garden gate when I suddenly discovered, lying upon the verandah, large Newfoundland dog, who raised his massive head and looked at me inquiringly, and, fancied, a little belligerently. -.. .'.
 l have a.mortal horror of dogs, that is, other peoples dogs, and particularly loose dogs. So hesitated, and, as I saw no way
 
 without shouting to them, retreated like 6 coward. There was "Oave Canem" writ ten all over the house for me, and even fol a closer view of the fair creature in the garden, would not take the risk of the dog. -s~- .>- 1e{ . ,7 .
 No; would stroll out that way again the next day, and | would get Jenny, my married sister, to come with me. l '"To look at 8 cottage" said Jenny, ir astonishment, when I asked her company for this purpose. "What in the world dc you mean ?"
 0"Oh, it's such a lovely little nest, ] thought I'd secure it in case l. should gel married, or anything of that kind"
 "Don't you think it would be more il the line of variety to secure the wife first ? she askedy knowing that I had none il view as yet. se-ar se59. 1.
 .sIts,a sort of Toodles idea, {" admitted but I'd like you to see it.
 So we went; we saw, and I was conquer ed. We inquired within. Jennie wa captivated with the cottage and grounds and I-there was only one solitary objec in the whole premises that saw stuff lciently well to be able to inscribe it intel ligentiy afterwaris. .s.. ....... ''Did you notice, Ned, how .admirabl, Cu0 EOOIuB COuucCtGu, AIU HOW space wa economized everywhere p --.---...------ lrather abruptly, thinking only of the room las connected with the superb central fig ure, Mary Anderson, as we learned he lname waa, and of the economy of spac only in the light of the immense spac that there was at present between us, Mar and me, mean.
 "And what beautiful tint of brown tn cottage was painted r she added, RJ
 Beautiful, beautiful l" II said, l0okin Edreamingly out of the,window, and ithinl ing of the exquisitely lustrious brown eyes ssNed i'9 said Jennie, suddenly, sfartin me out of 8 dream in which I was pictul ing myself and Mary as the occupants C the cottage, without knowing aetuall whether the house was painted brown 70 green, oripainted at all, for that matter 'tNed, do you know I don't believe yo have the ffa7ntest notion of hiring th house nor do believe you know whetl CT the cottage contains two rooms or ter or whether there was front or back doc or window to i. -.-,7,-s,--c --5~...,.Te I met her coheeht tfated gaze of lncred ulity and her provoking smile with a loo which was meant for af injured and indie nant one; but I felt that my hot face bt trAyed me, sol eaids nothing mofeiabout then.
 A few days only had elapsed since Jenn and had looked over. the premises to let S or rather since Jenny had lookei ther over, while had, but no matter fev days after ! was at the cottage again, thi time alone. s~-. @a's' @ -'
 The entire group of female janitresse showed me over the house again, the eide lady, the mother, pointing out to mo tn cOnveniences and praising them; and ] q always looking at Mary, who seemed ad s verse to parting with fthe homo, assente, to all the old lady said about the rooms I etc., while my eyes took in nothing, an' my wounded heart assented to nothing except Mary, and her love, her heert.
 "How much of family have you, MT i Barton r said Mrs. Anderson. Incidental I ly, while showing the neat bed chambers
 l stood in the upper hall, surrounded D! the three young ladies, and the mothe stood at the door of the front chamber. None at all, "s Trepiied, TthoaR Rktlessly
 Four pairs of astonished eyes of 4pariou hues were focused upon me instantly
 The gray eyes ofthe elder woman Seem ed to pierce my subterfnge, but I turne( to the liquid JbrSwn-4 for relief, to finC in them puzzled expression only.
 sSTheh yOaa c56tshdp plating marriage 2 questioned Mrs. Anderson. tte aesF
 "Yes, "I said, boldly, still staring a pretty Mary, who turned away her eyes 'I think the place will suit me very well, : added, mechanically. And then to my